Slide 1

An Overview of the Complete Streets Concept and a Review of NCDOTs Proposed Complete Streets Guidelines PHC COMPLETE STREETS Slide 2 What are Complete Streets? Complete Streets are streets for everyone. They are designed and operated to enable safe access for all users. Pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit riders of all ages and abilities must be able to safely move along and across a complete street. Slide 3 The Benefits of Complete Streets Complete streets make economic sense. Complete streets improve safety Complete streets encourage more walking, transit riding and bicycling. Complete streets can help ease transportation woes. Complete streets help children. Complete streets are good for air quality. Complete streets make fiscal sense. Slide 4 Why do we need to change our policies to Complete Streets? Safety Equity Healthier options for travel Cost efficiency Attractiveness Slide 5 What do Complete Streets look like? Slide 6 Draft of Chapters 1-4 Review period until AUGUST 17, 2011 The NCDOT Complete Streets Guidebook Slide 7 Slide 8 What we like about it They have committed to using Complete Streets policies with their new projects Although there are flaws, it is something and better than nothing The cross sectional illustrations provided do show some sensitivity to contextual design Guidelines are more often based on QOS (Quality of Service) rather than the usual LOS (Level of Service) The document is well-presented and has helpful visuals. Slide 9 Overall short-comings It is the Departments expectation that suitable multimodal alternatives will be incorporated as appropriate in all new and improved infrastructure projects within a growth area of a town or city. As exceptions to policy requests are unique in nature, each will be considered on a case-by- case basis. Each exception must be approved by the Chief Deputy Secretary. Routine maintenance projects may be excluded from this requirement if an appropriate source of funding is not available. -Page 4 in The Preface Slide 10 Overall outlook remains auto-centric Language, demand matrices Connectivity approached, but not addressed How vital, how to do it The designs are flatland-centric No mention of topography This document is likely to become a model for cities as they adopt Complete Streets policies We all have an interest in making it the best it can be and other concerns Slide 11 Specifics: Chapter Understanding Context and Designing for All Users No mention of accessibility They are not designing bicycle lanes in proportion to speed There is no mention of removing rumble strips Slide 12 All matrices are auto- centric Specifics: Chapter 4- Design Elements Slide 13 Flat Land Friendly We need to make sure they mean what they say when plan to use contextual sensitive transportation solutions Specifics: Chapter 5- Street Cross-Sections Slide 14 THE SURVEY Survey (and proposed guidelines): www.NCcompletestreets.org www.NCcompletestreets.org 6 questions = 20 minutes Advisory Committee review comments will be emailed to you. Review period will end August 17, 2011